Identity of the perpetrator of the New Orleans, USA, attack on dozens of people has been revealed.

The FBI has revealed the identity of the perpetrator of the New Orleans car-ramming attack that killed and injured dozens of people, coinciding with New Year's celebrations.

At least 10 people were killed and 30 injured when a truck plowed into a crowd of New Year's Eve revelers in the French Quarter on Wednesday, New Orleans authorities said.

The FBI said it was investigating the attack as an "act of terrorism", and confirmed the death of the suspected perpetrator, a 42-year-old American citizen from Texas named Shamsuddin Jabbar.

The office added that he was driving a small truck that appeared to be rented, and inside it was found an ISIS flag, weapons and a possible explosive device.

CNN quoted security officials as saying that the FBI, which is investigating the attack, is searching for possible accomplices of the suspect.

"This morning, a person drove his car into a crowd of people on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, killing several people and injuring dozens more," the federal police said in a statement.

"The individual then encountered local law enforcement and was killed. The FBI is the lead investigating agency, and we are working with our partners to investigate this as an act of terrorism," the statement added.

urgent...

A photo of the New Orleans attacker in Louisiana, USA, was published and his name was identified as (Shamsuddin Jabbar). He grew up in Texas and it is believed that he served in the army for ten years.

(Washington Post) https://t.co/eeWxLNIzFD pic.twitter.com/0k6TiqISqy

— Eyad Al-Hamoud (@Eyaaaad) January 1, 2025

The local emergency authority announced in a statement that there were "a large number of injuries" as a result of "a vehicle running over a large crowd on Canal Street and Bourbon Street," indicating "35 injuries and ten deaths."

For its part, the New Orleans police confirmed that the driver of the pickup truck tried to "run over as many people as possible."

The attack took place at around 3:15 a.m. (0915 GMT) in an area crowded with New Year's revelers on Canal and Bourbon Streets in the historic and touristy district known as the French Quarter.

The neighborhood is home to restaurants, bars, and jazz clubs, as well as nightclubs and gay bars.

CBS News quoted witnesses as saying that a truck traveling "very fast" hit the crowd before its driver jumped out and started shooting, prompting police to respond.

Police confirmed that two of their officers were shot during the attack. Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said during a press conference following the attack that the driver was "very intent on causing carnage," noting that he opened fire from his car at two officers, wounding two of them.

"This man, the perpetrator, opened fire on our officers from his car during the operation, and two of them were injured and are in stable condition," she said.

Witnesses Jim and Nicole Maurer told CBS that a white truck drove through a barrier "very quickly."

"After she passed us, we heard gunshots and saw police running in that direction," Nicole said.

"We hid until the shooting stopped, then we went out into the street and saw that many people were injured, and we wanted to help them," she continued.

"horrific run over"

For his part, the White House confirmed that US President Joe Biden is following the latest developments in the "horrific" car-ramming attack. Biden later said in a statement: "Nothing justifies violence of any kind, and we will not tolerate any attack on the people of our country."

US President-elect Donald Trump linked the New Orleans attack to illegal immigration, the issue that was the focus of his election victory.

“When I said the criminals coming in were far worse than the criminals in the country,” Trump wrote on social media, “it turns out that’s true.”

For its part, the city's municipality confirmed the deployment of a large number of law enforcement officers during the New Year's period, as authorities prepare for huge crowds to flock to the streets.

The city's police department announced "mobilizing all its forces, with the assistance of 300 additional members from partner law enforcement agencies," including mounted teams, and conducting patrols.

New Orleans is one of the most visited cities in the United States, and the attack occurred just before the city was due to host a major American football match between the University of Georgia and Notre Dame.

Source: Agencies